Crank-movement



(No Model.)

J. H. MILLEN GRANK MOVEMENT.

No. 594,414. Patented Nov. 30'., 1897.A

qxlifbvwooao Nirnn STATES rrrcn.

JAMES II. MILLEN, OF BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

CRANKENIO'VEVIENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,414, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed June 30,1896. Serial No. 597,574. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JAMES H. MILLEN, of Bloomington, county of Monroe, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crank-Movem ents, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce a device for overcoming dead-centers in light mechanical movements.

My invention is especially applicable to bicycles and is illustrated in the drawings as applied thereto, but its use is not exclusively limited to machines of that kind.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of the driving portion of a bicycle. Fig. II is a top plan view thereof with a portion of the liange of the sprocketwheel cut away. y

Referring to the figures on the drawings, l indicates the frame of the machine, provided with bearings 2, within which on a shaft 3 is carried the rear wheel 4. Y

5 indicates the shaft of the sprocket-whee 6, that is carried in bearings 7.

8 indicates a sprocket-pinion on the shaft 3, and 9 a sprocket-chain which gears the Vsprocket-wheel 6 and the pinion 8 together,

as in the ordinary manner. The sprocketwheel is provided, preferably on both sides,

with an annular iiange 10, coaxial with the i shaft 5. The driving mechanism for impartingmotion to the sprocket-wheel being substantially identical on both sides of the sprocket-wheel, I deem it suiiicient to specify the mechanical elements as they appear on one side of the sprocket-Wheel.

Referring therefore to the features of the driving mechanism, ll indicates a lever pivoted to the shaft 5. Its longer end is actuated by a spiral or other spring l2, and its shorter end carries pivotally upon a pin 13 a pedallever 14. It is provided with a suitable pedal or similar element l5, through which it may be actuated by power applied by the hand or foot of an operator.

16 indicates a spring secured at one end to the extremity of the lever 14 and at the other end to the frame l of the machine, tending wheel aud thereby to the machine. As soon as pressure upon the pedal-lever is sufliciently relaxed the spring 16 raises the lever fora repetition of the driving movement. In this it is aided by the spring l2, which, acting upon the lever ll, has the effect of raising the rear or hinged end of the lever 14 at the same time that the outer extremity of the lever is raised by the Vspring 16. This insures smoothness and certainty of movement Without tendency to impede the forward travel of the sprocket- Wheel 6 and its connected driving mechanism.

l. The combination with a frame, shaft, wheel and annular flange upon it coaxial with the shaft, of a spring-actuated lever pivoted to the shaft, a second lever pivoted to one end of the first-named lever, said second lever being independently spring-actuated and provided with a clutch jaw or recess adapted to be engaged by the wheel to drive it, substantially in the manner and for the purpose speciiied.

2. The combination with a frame, shaft, sprocket-wheel, and annular iiange upon the sprocket-wheel coaxial with the shaft, of a lever pivoted to the shaft, a spring secured at one end to said lever, and at the other to the frame, a second lever pivotally united to the first-named lever, a recess or clutch-jaw formed in the second lever to engage with the flange, a spring secured at one end to the second lever, and at the other to the frame, said lever being thereby independently springactuated, substantially as specified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES H. MILLEN.

Witnesses:

E. E. SLUss, GEO. D. THORNTON. 

